Francisco Pizarro, (born c. 1475, Trujillo, Extremadura, Castile [Spain]—died June 26, 1541, Lima [now in Peru]), Spanish conqueror of the Inca empire and founder of the city of Lima.

Early life

Pizarro was the illegitimate son of Captain Gonzalo Pizarro and Francisca González, a young girl of humble birth. He spent much of his early life in the home of his grandparents. According to legend he was for a time a swineherd, a not unlikely possibility since this was a common occupation of boys in that region. He doubtless participated in local manorial wars and, when these were ended, very probably ... (100 of 1,301 words)